2025 in Prayer - Calendar
Find below the focus and prayer requests for the month. Each month, you can learn more about GROW and have a focused way of praying for the ministry. Subscribe and donate to help rescue more children.
August 2025
Focus: Rightousness
“What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Nothing but the blood of Jesus-Robert Lowry
How is Righteousness Viewed in Thai Culture?
In Thai culture the King of Thailand is traditionally viewed as a righteous sovereign, whose authority stems from adherence to Buddhist principles, which means to encompass generosity, morality, honesty, compassion and perseverance. However, the king’s first responsibility is to reign with righteousness to ensure the best for his people. Buddhists believe that righteous behavior, such as generosity and adherence to moral precepts, contributes to building merit or karma. Merit or karma in return produces social and spiritual capital that influences one’s both present and future well-being.
Thai society values social harmony and often prioritizes avoiding conflict. Beyond adherence to laws, ethical life in Thailand is shaped by the interplay of karma, intention, and social consequence. Maintaining one’s composure is viewed as a key virtue, reflecting a state of calmness and detachment that demonstrates moral superiority.
Respect is a fundamental value in Thai culture, particularly towards elders, those in positions of authority and religious figures such as monks. Showing reverence is seen as a righteous behavior that earns not only merit or karma, but impacts social harmony.
But… Who sets the standard for righteousness? Righteousness is defined as being morally right or justifiable. Who has the right to determine what is moral and what is immoral? Who has the right to say what is justifiable? I Samuel 2:2 says, “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides You.” God is the ultimate standard of righteousness. Only God is wholly righteous, so only He can set the standard for righteousness. (I John 3:5). Even though we as humans may have a zeal for righteousness, our desire for righteousness is not in accordance with knowledge. (Romans 10:2). We miss the mark because we really don’t know the mind of God (Isaiah 55:7-8) so we try to create a righteousness of our own. Yet, God’s word tells us that it is impossible for man to attain righteousness outside of Him. “There is none righteous, no not one.” (Romans 3:10) “ For all of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Our only hope is God’s redemptive work on the cross (Romans 3:24). Because of Jesus’ work on the cross. God offers us righteousness through faith in Christ (Philippians 3:9). We the unrighteous were made righteous and justified by the Righteous. (I Corinthians 5:21). We make the mark because of Jesus, only Jesus.
At GROW, we correct the human thinking on righteousness by teaching the Word of God so that these precious children can exchange their own unrighteousness for the righteousness of Jesus.
Prayer: Pray that our staff can clearly teach the children the Gospel and lead them by example to the Cross.
